Radiation Protection System Research Articles

Effectiveness of a new radiation protection system in the interventional radiology setting

ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to examine a new weightless-like radiation protection garment regarding its radiation protection efficacy and to compare it to a conventional two-piece apron suit plus thyroid collar and standard ancillary shields. Material and MethodsAll measurements were carried out using a clinical angiography system with a standardized fluoroscopy protocol for different C-arm angulations. An anthropomorphic torso phantom served as a scattering body. In addition, an ionization chamber was used to measure the radiation exposure on five different representative heights and at two different positions of an examiner during a typical fluoroscopic-guided intervention. ResultsThe new weightless-like radiation protection garment and the conventional protection concept showed a mean dose reduction of 98.1% (p < 0.01) and 90.1% (p < 0.01) when compared to no shielding, respectively. By adding ancillary shields to both systems, an average reduction of 99.0% (p < 0.01) and 98.2% (p < 0.01) was found. In addition, the efficacy of both systems varied depending on the height, the C-arm angulation and position of the examiner. ConclusionCombined with ancillary shields as an overall protection system, the recently introduced weightless-like radiation protection garment showed a significant better radiation protection efficacy when compared to conventional radiation protection measures.

Cancer risk following alpha-emitter exposure.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) mandated a task group (Task Group 64) to review recently published epidemiological studies related to cancer risk and incorporated alpha emitters, and to evaluate whether the results might consolidate or challenge assumptions underlying the current radiation protection system. Three major alpha emitters were considered: radon and its decay products, plutonium, and uranium. Results came mainly from cohorts of workers, while for radon, major studies of the general population contributed to a better understanding of the risk of lung cancer at low and chronic exposure. Selection criteria for the review were: assessment of individual exposure of the target organ, long duration of the health survey, availability of attained age at end of follow-up, and adjustment for major co-factors. Task Group 64 is composed of members from ICRP Committees 1 and 2 (because epidemiological and dosimetric expertise were needed) and external experts. A first report (ICRP Publication 115) considered the risk of lung cancer related to inhalation of radon and its decay products. As the estimated excess risk per unit of exposure was higher by a factor of 2 compared with a previous ICRP estimate in 1993, Task Group 64 suggested a reconsideration of the reference levels for the workplace and for the general population. A second report, using the same standardised methodology (lung cancer baselines, population, life expectancy), will include estimation of the cancer risk of nuclear workers exposed to plutonium, focusing on the risk of lung cancer. A comparison of these risks with those of populations exposed to external gamma radiation alone will be made in the near future. For uranium, the results related to the organ-specific dose were too sparse to draw reliable conclusions, despite a recent publication. More research is needed on this topic.

Tungsten Carbide compact primary shielding for Small Medium Reactor

In order to improve the Small Medium Reactor’s radiation protection system, a new design for primary radiation shielding based on Tungsten Carbide and Lead is presented. The application of Tungsten Carbide is considered, so that a compromise between low weight and high absorption is found, to achieve allowed radiation dose rate after reactor shutdown. Its high density and the presence of Carbon nuclei, makes this material an interesting shielding against photons and fast neutrons as well, leading to an original design. Tungsten Carbide is arranged in absorbing rods of 17.05 mm inner diameter with a pitch of 20 mm, voids between absorbing rods are filled with Lead in order to increase the self-shielding of the structure. Design process is illustrated with an application example for a hypothetical 200 MW Small Medium Reactor. Radiation source was quantified with ORIGEN code and radiation transport throughout shielding was calculated with MCNP5 code. The result was a shielding of 31 cm thickness and 150 MT of weight. The maximum dose rate was 3 µSv/h, after 83 min since reactor shutdown.

Get the Lead off Our Backs!

Many interventionalists face physical challenges almost daily for years or decades. The burden of assuming awkward positions while carrying extra weight can take its toll on the musculoskeletal system to such an extent that the career is ended or modified to exclude procedural aspects. The proliferation of lighter aprons has unfortunately resulted in reduced protection with poor correlation of protection to labeling due to the inadequacies of testing methods for nonlead materials. The protective quality of the non-leads is not superior to lead-containing composites on a weight basis, and the user no longer knows how well they are protected unless buying aprons containing lead. Various useful methods and shields that may reduce radiation exposure are supported by the floor, ceiling, table, or patient. The suspended personal radiation protection system is a recent development which provides substantially greater radiation protection than conventional lead aprons combined with other shields, while also taking all of the weight off of the operator. It is composed of an expansive and thick (1mm Pb equiv) apron with a large face-shield to protect the neck, head, and eyes, and is suspended overhead to provide motion in the x, y, and z planes. Exposures may also be substantially reduced by leaving the area during acquisition sequences and use of power injectors.

Conceptual Approach to the Military Economy Justification of the NBC Protection Armament and Equipment Development Prospects

One of the important areas of research, held in the “33 Central Research Test Institute” of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, is the development of the scientific and theoretical basis for the substantiation of programs and plans for the development of the system of the radiation, chemical and biological protection together with the leading scientific research institutions of the Ministry of Defense of Russia of troops. The formation of program activities is carried out within the framework of the methodology of program planning with the use military economy justification of the development prospects of the armament system of radiation, chemical and biological protection. The conducted research are directed to the decision of the actual problem of qualitative transition to the advanced level of technological progress of samples arms and means of NBC protection equipment. Budgetary restrictions of financing of the state military expenditures necessitate the researches in the interests of improving the theoretical foundations and practical methods of decision-making support in the of ensuring of radiation, chemical and biological safety of the state. The aim of the research is to develop a conceptual approach to increasing the efficiency of the use of state financial resources in the implementation of program activities of the development of the technical system of the radiation, chemical and biological protection of forces. The scientific, theoretical basis for its achievement this aim is the normative, organizational and methodological proposition that deal with military and economic support of the country’s defense and radiation, chemical and biological protection of the state. In the studies the dialectical, systemic, analytical and logical methods of studying of the socio-economic phenomena, as well as methods of scientific abstraction, induction and deduction, normative and positive analysis and synthesis are used. As a result of the research, a conceptual approach to the to the construction of a military-economic system of the NBC protection armament and equipment development direction is developed. It allows accelerating the introduction of advanced technologies of radiation, chemical and biological protection into new models and system of the armament weapons and military special equipment

Somatic health effects of Chernobyl: 30 years on.

2016 marked the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. We and others wrote reviews for the 25th anniversary. Since then, additional papers have appeared and it seems timely to highlight lessons learned. To present, not a systematic review, but a commentary drawing attention to notable findings. We include not only recent reports and updates on previous results, but key findings from prior Chernobyl studies. The dose-dependent increase in Papillary Thyroid Cancer (PTC) following childhood I-131 exposure in Ukraine and Belarus has now been shown to persist for decades. Studies of post-Chernobyl PTCs have produced novel information on chromosomal rearrangements and gene fusions, critical to understanding molecular mechanisms. Studies of clean-up workers/liquidators suggest dose-related increases of thyroid cancer and hematological malignancies in adults. They also report increases in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. If confirmed, these would have significant public health and radiation protection implications. The lens opacities following low to moderate doses found earlier are also a concern, particularly among interventional radiologists who may receive substantial lens doses. Finally, there is some, inconsistent, evidence for genetic effects among offspring of exposed persons. Further efforts, including improved dosimetry, collection of information on other risk factors, and continued follow-up/monitoring of established cohorts, could contribute importantly to further understand effects of low doses and dose-rates of radiation, particularly in young people, and ensure that appropriate public health and radiation protection systems are in place. This will require multinational collaborations and long-term funding.

Alpha Particles and X Rays Interact in Inducing DNA Damage in U2OS Cells.

Survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are monitored for health effects within the Life Span Study (LSS). The LSS results represent the most important source of data about cancer effects from ionizing radiation exposure, which forms the foundation for the radiation protection system. One uncertainty connected to deriving universal risk factors from these results is related to the problem of mixed radiation qualities. The A-bomb explosions generated a mixed beam of the sparsely ionizing gamma radiation and densely ionizing neutrons. However, until now the possible interaction of the two radiation types of inducing biological effects has not been taken into consideration. The existence of such interaction would suggest that the application of risk factors derived from the LSS to predict cancer effects after pure gamma-ray irradiation (such as in the Fukushima prefecture) leads to an overestimation of risk. To analyze the possible interaction of radiation types, a mixed-beam exposure facility was constructed where cells can be exposed to sparsely ionizing X rays and densely ionizing alpha particles. U2OS cells were used, which are stably transfected with a plasmid coding for the DNA repair gene 53BP1 coupled to a gene coding for the green fluorescent protein (GFP). The induction and repair of DNA damage, which are known to be related to cancer induction, were analyzed. The results suggest that alpha particles and X rays interact, leading to cellular and possibly cancer effects, which cannot be accurately predicted based on assuming simple additivity of the individual mixed-beam components.

On identification of morbidity parameters in a heterogeneous model: The cases of complete and incomplete information

This paper suggests a methodology to estimate morbidity parameters in a three-state model, which includes the heterogeneity factor modeled by a gamma-distributed random variable. The cases of complete and incomplete information are considered and various risk estimation methods are discussed. We give estimates of morbidity radiation risks in four classes of diseases based on data from the Russian National Radiation Epidemiological Registry. The methodology can be used during the development of radiation protection systems.

Space: The Final Frontier-Research Relevant to Mars.

A critically important gap in knowledge surrounds the health consequences of exposure to radiation received gradually over time. Much is known about the health effects of brief high-dose exposures, such as from the atomic bombings in Japan, but the concerns today focus on the frequent low-dose exposures received by members of the public, workers, and, as addressed in this paper, astronauts. Additional guidance is needed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for planning long-term missions where the rate of radiation exposure is gradual over years and the cumulative amounts high. The direct study of low doses and low-dose rates is of immeasurable value in understanding the possible range of health effects from gradual exposures and in providing guidance for radiation protection, not only of workers and the public but also astronauts. The ongoing Million Person Study (MPS) is 10 times larger than the study of the Japanese atomic bomb survivors of 86,000 survivors with estimated doses. The number of workers with >100 mSv career dose is substantially greater. The large study size, broad range of doses, and long follow-up indicate substantial statistical ability to quantify the risk of exposures that are received gradually over time. The study consists of 360,000 U.S. Department of Energy workers from the Manhattan Project; 150,000 nuclear utility workers from the inception of the nuclear age; 115,000 atomic veterans who participated in above-ground atmospheric tests at the Nevada Test Site and the Bikini and Enewetak Atolls and Johnston Island in the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG); 250,000 radiologists and medical workers; and 130,000 industrial radiographers. NASA uses an individual risk-based system for radiation protection in contrast to the system of dose limits for occupational exposures used by terrestrial-based organizations. The permissible career exposure limit set by NASA for each astronaut is a 3% risk of exposure-induced death (REID) from cancer at a 95% confidence level to account for uncertainties in risk projections. The large size of the MPS will reduce the uncertainty in the risk estimates, narrowing the 95% confidence interval, and thus allow more time in space for astronauts. Further differences between men and women in their response to radiation can be more fully examined, and non-cancer outcomes, such as neurological disorders and cardiovascular disease, can be evaluated in a way not hitherto possible.

Erratum to “Evaluation of a Suspended Personal Radiation Protection System vs. Conventional Apron and Shields in Clinical Interventional Procedures” [Open Journal of Radiology 3 (2013) 143-151

The original online version of this article (C. Savage, T. Seale IV, C. Shaw, B. Angela, D. Marichal and C. Rees, “Evaluation of a Suspended Personal Radiation Protection System vs. Conventional Apron and Shields in Clinical Interventional Procedures,” Open Journal of Radilogy, 3, 143-151. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojrad.2013.33024) was mistaken of the total isolates number in Table 2. The authors wish to correct the errors to: Table 2. Other study parameters “Gycm2” should be changed to “cGycm2” All of the decimal points (“.”) should be changed to commas (“,”). For example, “47.486” should be “47,486”.

Four and a half years of experience of a clinician born and raised in Fukushima: discrepancy found through dialogues and practices.

Many initiatives to measure the internal and external exposures of the residents of Fukushima have been undertaken since the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. However, residents have had few, if any, opportunities for face-to-face explanations to understand the meaning of such measurements. Although the personal data of tens of thousands of residents were collected, these data were not analysed adequately, and were therefore not used to implement large-scale programmes to manage/reduce exposures. One of the lessons learned from the Fukushima accident is that it is imperative for the government to implement these measures for radiation protection, and to build an effective functioning service for the residents. The author, as a physician from the region, has worked as an explainer/interpreter of exposure dose measurements to individual residents. Another lesson learned from this experience is that local medical and health professionals can contribute to building a public system for radiation protection, by acting as 'liaising officers' to connect residents, the authorities, and experts from outside the region. This paper describes the author's experience and lessons learned in the hope that this information will be useful in the event of a future accident.

PROMOTING FLUOROSCOPIC PERSONAL RADIATION PROTECTION EQUIPMENT: UNFAMILIARITY, FACTS AND FEARS.

An incomplete understanding of risk can cause inappropriate fear. Personal protective equipment (PPE) offered for the prevention of brain cancer in interventional fluoroscopists (IR-PPE). Similar items are offered for cell-phone use (RF-PPE). Publications on fluoroscopy staff brain cancer and similar papers on cell-phone induced brain cancer were reviewed. An internet safety product search was performed, which resulted in many tens of thousands of hits. Vendor claims for either ionizing radiation or radio frequency products seldom addressed the magnitude of the risk. Individuals and institutions can buy a wide variety of safety goods. Any purchase of radioprotective equipment reduces the funds available to mitigate other safety risks. The estimated cost of averting an actuarial fatal brain cancer appears to be in the order of magnitude $10 000 000-$100 000 000. Unwarranted radiation fears should not drive the radiation protection system to the point of decreasing overall safety.

Cardiovascular diseases related to ionizing radiation: The risk of low-dose exposure (Review).

Traditionally, non-cancer diseases are not considered as health risks following exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation. Indeed, non-cancer diseases are classified as deterministic tissue reactions, which are characterized by a threshold dose. It is judged that below an absorbed dose of 100 mGy, no clinically relevant tissue damage occurs, forming the basis for the current radiation protection system concerning non-cancer effects. Recent epidemiological findings point, however, to an excess risk of non-cancer diseases following exposure to lower doses of ionizing radiation than was previously thought. The evidence is the most sound for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cataract. Due to limited statistical power, the dose-risk relationship is undetermined below 0.5 Gy; however, if this relationship proves to be without a threshold, it may have considerable impact on current low-dose health risk estimates. In this review, we describe the CVD risk related to low doses of ionizing radiation, the clinical manifestation and the pathology of radiation-induced CVD, as well as the importance of the endothelium models in CVD research as a way forward to complement the epidemiological data with the underlying biological and molecular mechanisms.

Protecting Public Health in Nuclear Emergencies-the Need to Broaden the Process.

It is necessary for the radiation protection system to broaden beyond radioactive dose, the view on impact of nuclear accidents, taking in consideration the psychological, social and economic determinants impacting the vulnerability of the exposed population, as well as the impacts of emergency countermeasures. It is strongly recommended to pursue strategies, approaches and services that will address these aspects within the general health protection system and will be applied before, during and after an emergency. The paper raises awareness and proposes a three-step development process for an integrated framework based on the social determinants of health approach.

Pengukuran Laju Paparan Radiasi pada Perisai Radiasi Ruang Panoramik di Instalasi Radiologi Rumah Sakit Islam Klaten

Background: Research about the measurement of radiation exposure rate on panoramic radiation shield in Radiology Installation of Klaten Islamic Hospital has been conducted. The background of this research is in the panoramic room there is a veil that has a gap on the bottom as high as 20 cm. The purpose of this research is to know the rate of radiation exposure on radiation panoramic shield in Radiology Installation of Klaten Islamic Hospital and the application of radiation protection system to the room.Methods: This research type is quantitative with survey approach that is writer do observation, documentation and measurement of exposure rate of radiation at controlled and uncontrolled area by doing measurement at two state that is before exposure (background radiation) and after exposure. The data obtained are then analyzed descriptively to declare a safe examination room or not for workers and the general public by comparing the measurement results with UNSCEAR and NCRP report No. 147.Result: The value of the background exposure rate in the panoramic chamber of the Klaten Hospital Radiology Installation exceeds the value of the background dose rate based on the location of the height of an area according to UNSCEAR. The background exposure value in the panoramic space ranges from 0.14 to 0.175 μGy/hour. The actual radiation exposure measurements at point A is 0.00021 mGy/hour, point B is 0.000175 mGy/h, point C is 0 mGy/hour, point D is 0 mGy/hour, point E is 0.000105 mGy/hour, point G is 0,000735 mGy/hour. These six results have not exceeded the NCRP report no. 147 is for controlled areas 0.0025 mGy / hr and uncontrolled area 0.0005 mGy / hr.

TU‐H‐204‐01: Work of ICRP in relation to activities of medical physicists

Since 1928, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has developed, maintained, and elaborated the International System of Radiological Protection used world‐wide as the common basis for radiological protection standards, legislation, guidelines, programs, and practice. ICRP provides and periodically revises radiation and tissue weighing factors, provides and updates recommended dose limits for occupational and public exposures, recommends dose levels for termination of pregnancy, and estimates threshold doses for tissue reactions (deterministic effects). ICRP developed the dose quantity “effective dose”.NCRP Council Committee 1 (CC‐1) is charged with developing recommendations for revising radiation protection guidance for the United States. Topics to be discussed include a summary of current ICRP guidance, NCRP CC‐1 directions, NRC regulatory changes on the horizon, and potential implications of radiation protection guidance changes on the practice of medicine. The opinions of AAPM members on potential changes are welcomed.NCRP Program Area Committee (PAC) 4 has oversight of activities in radiation protection in medicine, including protection of patients and training of health care workers. Documents have been published recently on diagnostic reference levels and achievable doses, health effects of preconception and prenatal radiation exposure, and administrative policies for quality assurance and peer review of tissue reactions associated with fluoroscopically guided interventions. Additional documents are in preparation. Learning Objectives: To understand the international system of radiation protection and learn about the work of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in relation to activities of medical physicists To understand the ongoing work of NCRP in developing new guidance for radiation protection in the U.S. To understand the ongoing work of NCRP in developing new recommendations for radiation protection in medicine. To learn about other national organizations in US whose work plays a useful role in the activities of medical physicists.M. Rehani, Work done as part of being member of ICRP. ICRP is an independent charity.

TU‐H‐204‐02: Work of NRC, States and of re‐evaluating dose limits by NCRP

Since 1928, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has developed, maintained, and elaborated the International System of Radiological Protection used world‐wide as the common basis for radiological protection standards, legislation, guidelines, programs, and practice. ICRP provides and periodically revises radiation and tissue weighing factors, provides and updates recommended dose limits for occupational and public exposures, recommends dose levels for termination of pregnancy, and estimates threshold doses for tissue reactions (deterministic effects). ICRP developed the dose quantity “effective dose”.NCRP Council Committee 1 (CC‐1) is charged with developing recommendations for revising radiation protection guidance for the United States. Topics to be discussed include a summary of current ICRP guidance, NCRP CC‐1 directions, NRC regulatory changes on the horizon, and potential implications of radiation protection guidance changes on the practice of medicine. The opinions of AAPM members on potential changes are welcomed.NCRP Program Area Committee (PAC) 4 has oversight of activities in radiation protection in medicine, including protection of patients and training of health care workers. Documents have been published recently on diagnostic reference levels and achievable doses, health effects of preconception and prenatal radiation exposure, and administrative policies for quality assurance and peer review of tissue reactions associated with fluoroscopically guided interventions. Additional documents are in preparation. Learning Objectives: To understand the international system of radiation protection and learn about the work of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in relation to activities of medical physicists To understand the ongoing work of NCRP in developing new guidance for radiation protection in the U.S. To understand the ongoing work of NCRP in developing new recommendations for radiation protection in medicine. To learn about other national organizations in US whose work plays a useful role in the activities of medical physicists.M. Rehani, Work done as part of being member of ICRP. ICRP is an independent charity.

TU‐H‐204‐00: Work of ICRP, NCRP and Others and How They Impact On Medical Physicists

Since 1928, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has developed, maintained, and elaborated the International System of Radiological Protection used world‐wide as the common basis for radiological protection standards, legislation, guidelines, programs, and practice. ICRP provides and periodically revises radiation and tissue weighing factors, provides and updates recommended dose limits for occupational and public exposures, recommends dose levels for termination of pregnancy, and estimates threshold doses for tissue reactions (deterministic effects). ICRP developed the dose quantity “effective dose”.NCRP Council Committee 1 (CC‐1) is charged with developing recommendations for revising radiation protection guidance for the United States. Topics to be discussed include a summary of current ICRP guidance, NCRP CC‐1 directions, NRC regulatory changes on the horizon, and potential implications of radiation protection guidance changes on the practice of medicine. The opinions of AAPM members on potential changes are welcomed.NCRP Program Area Committee (PAC) 4 has oversight of activities in radiation protection in medicine, including protection of patients and training of health care workers. Documents have been published recently on diagnostic reference levels and achievable doses, health effects of preconception and prenatal radiation exposure, and administrative policies for quality assurance and peer review of tissue reactions associated with fluoroscopically guided interventions. Additional documents are in preparation. Learning Objectives: To understand the international system of radiation protection and learn about the work of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in relation to activities of medical physicists To understand the ongoing work of NCRP in developing new guidance for radiation protection in the U.S. To understand the ongoing work of NCRP in developing new recommendations for radiation protection in medicine. To learn about other national organizations in US whose work plays a useful role in the activities of medical physicists.M. Rehani, Work done as part of being member of ICRP. ICRP is an independent charity.

TU‐H‐204‐03: NCRP PAC 4 (Radiation Protection in Medicine)

Since 1928, the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has developed, maintained, and elaborated the International System of Radiological Protection used world‐wide as the common basis for radiological protection standards, legislation, guidelines, programs, and practice. ICRP provides and periodically revises radiation and tissue weighing factors, provides and updates recommended dose limits for occupational and public exposures, recommends dose levels for termination of pregnancy, and estimates threshold doses for tissue reactions (deterministic effects). ICRP developed the dose quantity “effective dose”.NCRP Council Committee 1 (CC‐1) is charged with developing recommendations for revising radiation protection guidance for the United States. Topics to be discussed include a summary of current ICRP guidance, NCRP CC‐1 directions, NRC regulatory changes on the horizon, and potential implications of radiation protection guidance changes on the practice of medicine. The opinions of AAPM members on potential changes are welcomed.NCRP Program Area Committee (PAC) 4 has oversight of activities in radiation protection in medicine, including protection of patients and training of health care workers. Documents have been published recently on diagnostic reference levels and achievable doses, health effects of preconception and prenatal radiation exposure, and administrative policies for quality assurance and peer review of tissue reactions associated with fluoroscopically guided interventions. Additional documents are in preparation. Learning Objectives: To understand the international system of radiation protection and learn about the work of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in relation to activities of medical physicists To understand the ongoing work of NCRP in developing new guidance for radiation protection in the U.S. To understand the ongoing work of NCRP in developing new recommendations for radiation protection in medicine. To learn about other national organizations in US whose work plays a useful role in the activities of medical physicists.M. Rehani, Work done as part of being member of ICRP. ICRP is an independent charity.

The application of EPICS in TMSR radiation protection and access control system

To treat technical problems of data acquisition, alarm management, and historical data archiving of radiation protection control system in Thorium Molten Salt Reactor, a network prototype system was designed based on experimental physics and industrial control system. Radiation level of many locations in Jiading campus of Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics is being continuously monitored, and boundaries of accelerator facilities and radiochemical areas are defined by the access control system. In this paper, we introduce the control system design, including human–machine interfaces, alarm system, historical data archiving system, and the software for access control. The software development followed the standard of Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI®) Level 3, and the software had passed a third-party test, which indicated that the functionality and the reliability could fulfill the requirements of the radiation protection system.